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Tuesday, 1 July 2014

RAMADAN FOR PURIFICATION

RAMADAN

The Best Opportunity
For

Physical & Spiritual Purification

(Part 1 of 2)

Start A New (Sinless) Life!

(M. Javed Naseem)

(Photo courtesy: Astrobob/NASA)

It was a pleasure to see that most of the Muslims in the
world started Ramadan 1435 on the same date (29th June, 2014,
Sunday). But the ‘people of division’ are always working on their plan/project
to create disunity and disruption among the Ummah. Surprisingly, some groups in
America/Canada started Ramadan on Saturday, the 28th June, 2014,
without any scientific and moral justification. The Almighty Allah will pay
them their compensation according to their actions and the results.

Here’s what Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said about
moon-sighting and the confusing situation arising out of it. He recommended to
complete 30 days of the month in question to avoid differences and confusion.
That goes for Shaaban, Ramadan and Shawwal – as a matter of fact for every
month.

29/30-DAYS MONTH:

Narrated Ibn Umar:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "We are an illiterate nation;
we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e.
sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days."

(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No. 137)

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you should fast a day
or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (Nawafil)
(and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day." (Bukhari,
Vol. 3, Book 31, No.138)

Narrated Abdullah bin Umar:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The
month (can be) of 29 nights (i.e. days), and do not fast till you see the moon,
and if the sky is overcast, then complete (the month of) Shaaban as of thirty
days." (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.131)

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) or Abul-Qasim said, "Start fasting
on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent
(of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see the moon),
complete thirty days of Shaaban."

(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.133)

Narrated Ibn Umar:

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "When
you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see
the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is
overcast (and you can't see it) then regard the month of Ramadan as of 30 days."
(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.124)

Narrated Um Salama:

The Prophet (ﷺ) vowed to keep aloof from his wives for a
period of one month, and after the completion of 29 days he went either in the
morning or in the afternoon to his wives. Someone said to him "You vowed
that you would not go to your wives for one month." He replied, "The
month is of 29 days." (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No. 134)

Narrated Anas:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) vowed to keep aloof
from his wives for one month, and he had dislocation of his leg. So, he stayed
in a Mashruba for 29 nights and then came down. Some people said, "O
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!
You vowed to stay aloof for one month," He replied, "The month is of
29 days." (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.135)

Don’t get confused! There is no contradiction in the above
statements (Ahadith). From every statement it is clear that after 29 days, we
should look for the crescent moon, but if the crescent moon is not sighted due
to cloudy skies or other natural/weather phenomena, then we must complete 30 days
for that month.

At the same time, we should not forget that if the crescent
moon is sighted in some other part of the region and there are two credible
witnesses to that, then it should be accepted as ‘sighted’ and all
groups/townships should start Ramadan unanimously on the same day avoiding
disunity.

KAABAH, THE SYMBOL OF UNITY,

Is Full Of Blessings And Guidance:

Holy Kaabah at Makkah is the center of Islam. It’s the focal
point of Islam as our Deen started from that beacon of light. It is only
logical and reasonable that we should create a system in the Muslim world to
coordinate, cooperate and implement the Islamic tenets all together and
unanimously. Allah has commanded us in the Quran to ‘hold tightly unto the rope
of Allah together and don’t be divided’. Therefore, it is an obligation (‘Fard’
or ‘Farz’) for all Muslims in the world to get united and stay united. Makkah
should be the ‘headquarter’ and must be followed by Muslims of other regions.

We should not forget that Allah has emphasized the
importance of Makkah in the Quran and has suggested us to benefit from its
blessings and guidance. Since we continue to disobey Allah, in response, Allah
has also distanced Himself from us. The result is the present suffering,
humiliation and punishment (bloodshed). It’s up to the people (and
Administration) of Makkah to take responsibility as God-fearing Muslims and
lead/guide the Ummah. Makkah was the first ‘House of Worship’ prescribed by
Allah and should be treated as the ‘central command’ office for all religious,
cultural economic and political activities. It should be respected.

Therefore, Makkah
should be treated as the main source of guidance and blessing for this planet
Earth. Apart from the ‘place of blessing’, there are ‘periods of blessing’ too
that should be observed. Allah has bestowed upon us those special occasions to
benefit from them to work on our ‘Aakhirah’ or the ‘Hereafter’. The best of
these occasions is the holy month of Ramadan. Anybody who gets to live through
Ramadan must consider himself very lucky – a person who was awarded an
opportunity to benefit from it and amass as many blessings of the Almighty as
possible; a person who was given a chance to start a new sinless life; a person
who was given an opportunity to get his sins removed; a person who was offered
an occasion to repent seeking Allah’s pardon/mercy to eventually enter into the
Gardens of Paradise. And if anybody can achieve that feat, it would be the
greatest success of his life in this world.

THE REWARD FOR FASTING:

Fasting is much appreciated by Allah and He gives a
tremendous reward for it. That reward cannot be measured. He has promised that
reward. That’s why He said that “fasting is for Me and I shall give its
reward”. This promise is valid for both obligatory fasting during the month of
Ramadan, as well as optional (‘Nafl’) fasting during all other months, and on all
other occasions.

Bukhari:

There is a ‘Qudsi Hadith’ that states: “All actions a
human being does are his with the exception of fasting which belongs to Me, and
I reward it accordingly.”
(Sahih Bukhari).

Muslim:

Abu Huraira (r.a.a.) narrates that the Holy Prophet (ﷺ)
said:
“Every act of man is multiplied. One good act is multiplied between ten to
seven hundred times. However Allah says: “Except fasting, because it is
for Me and I shall compensate it. He (man/woman) gives up his passions and
food for me.”

There are two moments of joy for the fasting person:
1) When he breaks his fast, and

2) When he meets his Sustainer (Lord).
Certainly the breath of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance
of musk. (Sahih Muslim)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Allah, the Majestic and the Exalted, said: Every act of the
son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give
a reward for it. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of
the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk. (Muslim,
Book 13, Ch.
30, No.1)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of
Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone)
will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day,
he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if
anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person
fasting. By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the
observer of fast is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance
of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy: One when he breaks the
fast, he is glad with the breaking of (the fast); and the other when he meets
his Lord, He is glad with his fast. (Muslim, Book 13, Ch. 30, No.3)

Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the
way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from
the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance. (Muslim, Book 13, Ch.
31, No.1)

*********************

Ramadan in Your Lifetime:

Take advantage and get

the best of it! You may

not see the next one!

*********************

Allah has mentioned in the Quran the value and importance of
Ramadan. It cannot be explained better than that. All we need to do is to
follow these verses and take advantage of Allah’s mercy while it multiplies.

There is a blessing in Suhur or ‘Sehri’ (the early breakfast
of Ramadan). The ancient believers could not take advantage of it because it
was not introduced or recommended to them. In other words it did not exist
before. It’s one of the few special gifts Allah bestowed upon the Ummah of
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) to make the Deen easier for Muslims.

The early believing nations including the ‘people of the
book’ (Jews & Christians) used to fast for 24 hours – from sunset to sunset,
for more than a month. In other words, they would eat at sunset and start
fasting until the sunset of next day and then they break their fast. This
‘Iftar’ would serve as ‘Sehri’ for them too as they won’t get up for Suhur
(Sehri). Moreover, they used to observe 40 days of fasting, not 30, as we do.
This is another facility or ‘ease’ from Allah for the Muslim Ummah.

يُرِيدُ
ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ

“… Allah intends every ease for you, He
does

not want to put you to difficulties …”

(al-Quran 2:185)

The limits of Suhur (Sehri) are stretched out till dawn by
the Almighty, so that we can enjoy food for a longer period of time.

Take meal a little before dawn, for there is a blessing in
taking meal at that time.

(Muslim, Book 13, Chapter 9, No.1)

Amr bin al-Aas (r.a.a.) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
as saying:

The difference between our fasting and that of the people of
the Book is eating shortly before dawn. (Muslim, Book 13, Ch. 9, No.2)

Narrated Aisha (r.a.a.):

Bilal used to pronounce the Adhan at night, so Allah's
Messenger (ﷺ)?
said, "Carry on taking your meals (eat and drink) till Ibn Um Maktum
pronounces the Adhan, for he does not pronounce it till it is dawn.”

(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.142)

Narrated Sahl bin Saad:

I used to take my Suhur meals with my family and then hurry
up for presenting myself for the (Fajr) prayer with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).

(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.143)

Narrated Anas:

Zaid bin Thabit said, "We took the Suhur with the
Prophet (ﷺ)
. Then he stood for the prayer." I asked, "What was the interval
between the Suhur and the Adhan?" He replied, "The interval was
sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Quran."

(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, No.144)

THE NIGHT OF POWER

(LAILAT-UL-QADR)

There’s a night during the last week of Ramadan which has
immense value, the utmost importance, numerous blessings and which carries
unlimited rewards for every act of worship. It is called the ‘Night of Power’
or ‘Lailat-ul-Qadr’.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever fasted the month of
Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah,
then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in
the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then
all his previous sins will be forgiven ." (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32,
No.231)

Narrated Ibn Umar:

Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ)
were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights
of Ramadan. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "It seems that all your dreams
agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants
to search for it (i.e. the Night of Qadr) should search in the last seven
(nights of Ramadan). (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, No.232)

Narrated Aisha:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Search
for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."
(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, No.234)

Narrated Aisha:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice ‘Aitikaf’
in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of
Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan." (Bukhari, Vol. 3,
Book 32, No.237)

Narrated Ibn Abbas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in
the last ten nights of Ramadan, on the night when nine or seven or five nights
remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan”, (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively).
(Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, No.238)

Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit:

The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to inform us about the Night of
Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So, the Prophet (ﷺ)
said, "I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such
persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that
might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of
Ramadan). (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, No.240)

Narrated Aisha (r.a.a.):

With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet
(ﷺ)
used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night,
and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32,
No.241)

Ibn Umar (r.a.a.) reported that some persons among the
Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were shown Lailat-
ul-Qadr while sleeping in the last week (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's
Messenger (ﷺ)
said: I see that your dreams agree regarding the last week; so he who wants to
seek it should seek it in the last week (during the night).

(Muslim, Book 13, Ch. 40, No.1)

Ibn Umar (r.a.a.) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)
as saying:

Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last week (of Ramadan). (Muslim,
Book 13, Ch.40, No.2)

Salim reported on the authority of his father that a person
saw Lailat-ul- Qadr on the 27th (of Ramadan). Thereupon, Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)
said:

I see that your dreams agree regarding the last ten (nights
of Ramadan). So seek it on an odd number (of these ten nights). (Muslim, Book
13, Ch.40, No.3)

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QURAN RECITATION

Al-Quran

The Guiding Light

WELCOME HOME

Assalaam-o-alaikum!

We are glad to see you here. We can accompany you home. By joining us, you'll, Insha-Allah, prepare yourself mentally and spiritually for your onward journey on the road less traveled. We are heading for Home - the promised Home. Allah says:

M. Javed Naseem

M. Javed Naseem (Jay Max) is a well-known journalist and broadcaster from Lahore (Pakistan). He is the author of six books. He has worked as a reporter and then sub-editor for daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Lahore; as sub-editor with the Pakistan Times, Lahore; and as editor of the weekly Community News, New York, NY, among others.He was an international broadcaster for radio Deutsche Welle (The Voice of Germany), Cologne, Germany; news editor and newscaster for Third World Broadcasting TV in New York; was producer & director of ‘Mabuhay’, an English language TV show for the Filipino community in New York. He had been an announcer at Radio Pakistan, Lahore; and Punjabi newscaster for Pakistan Television, Lahore. Before entering the field of professional journalism, he was a Lecturer/Instructor at the Govt. Commercial Training Institute, Lahore. He knows English, French, German, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Persian and some Arabic. He writes for Islamic websites. He is a Pakistani-American and now lives in retirement in Morocco, North Africa.Publications: The Way (Sunnah) of The Prophet (s.a.w.); God's Prescription - Al-Quran; A Wake-up Call; You Are Special; Stories of Prophets.